Picking from Japanese boy names is a popular choice amongst parents nowadays.
Undoubtedly, most of these names have a lovely ring to them. Plus, every character means something significant.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of attractive Japanese names for baby boys.
You may even have trouble narrowing down your options to find the best name for the little guy – we’ve done our best to help you out!
Related: Japanese Girl Names: 600+ Names with Meanings
This article gives you a long list of popular, cute, and cool baby boy names; you’ll also spot some unique names you may have never heard.
Contents
Classic Names & Meanings
Popular Baby Boy Names
Cool Names
Cute Names
Unique Names
More Name Variations
Origins and the Importance of Meaning
Classic Japanese Names for Boys: With Meanings
Classic Japanese names are usually written in the kanji script. These are characters that have Chinese origins but are Japanese in pronunciation.
The pronunciation of a kanji Japanese name is usually open to interpretation, so the hiragana or katakana script is often used when choosing a name.
Traditionally, hiragana and katakana names are not as significant as kanji names.
However, they are still beautiful in their own right.
With that said, let’s look at some classic Japanese baby boys’ names from which you can choose:
Akio
明夫
明 (bright) and 夫 (husband)
Aoki
青木
(blue/green tree)
Arata
新
(new)
Asahi
朝陽
(morning dynasty)
Haruto
遙斗
遙 (far distant) and 斗 (ladle)
Hinata
一陽
一 (one) and 陽 (sun)
Hiro
裕 / 寛 / 浩
裕 (abundant), 寛 (generous), and 浩 (prosperous)
Jiro
次郎
(second son)
Kaito
奏海
奏 (play the music) and 海 (ocean)
Kazuki
和希
(harmonious hope)
Keiji
恵嗣
恵 (blessed) and 嗣 (succeed)
Masao
正男
(correct man)
Masaru
優
(superiority)
Nao
直樹
(docile tree)
Osamu
治
(govern)
Ren
蓮, 恋
(lotus)
Yasu
保
(guarantee)
Yoshio
喜生
喜 (joy) and 生 (living)
Popular Japanese Boy Names
Choosing a popular Japanese name for your son is a great choice.
It would be considered excellent for the modern time in which your child is born. This way, you ensure that you select a name that wouldn’t seem too odd!
People often wonder what Japanese boy names are hot right now.
Truthfully, there are many options when it comes to popular baby boys’ names in Japanese.
Let’s take a look at some of them below:
Akira
明 / 亮
明 (bright) and 亮 (clear)
Daichi
大地 / 大智
大地 (great land) and 大智 (great wisdom)
Daisuke
大輔
(great helper)
Eiji
永次 / 英治
永次 (next eternity) and 英治 (great peace)
Gou
剛
(strong)
Hajime
肇 / 元
(start)
Hayato
隼人
(falcon)
Kouki
光稀
光 (light) and 稀 (rare)
Masaki
匡樹
匡 (help) and 樹 (tree)
Takeshi
武
(fierce)
Takumi
巧 / 匠
巧 (skilled) and 匠 (craftsman)
Taro
太郎
(eldest son)
Tatsuo
竜夫 / 龍雄
竜夫 (dragon man) and 龍雄 (imperial man)
Tomio
富
(rich man)
Yasuo
康夫(healthy man)
Yoshi
義 / 吉 / 良
義 (correct), 吉 (happy) and 良 (pleasant)
Yoshiro
義郎 / 良郎
義郎 (correct boy) and 良郎 (good boy)
Yuki
幸 / 雪
幸 (happiness, good fortune) and 雪 (snow)
Yukio
幸雄 / 行雄
幸雄 (happy hero) and 行雄 (hero’s path)
Yuuki
優希
優 (superiority) and 希 (hope)
Cool Japanese Boy Names
Many people go for masculine baby boys’ names since they sound cool.
For example, a Japanese boy name that means “brave” is Isamu. Many people like this name not only because it sounds cool but also because it has a cool meaning.
But, no matter which Japanese name you choose, it will likely sound pretty cool.
So, let’s have a look at the names we have below:
Haru
晴 / 春 / 陽
晴 (clear), 春 (spring), and 陽 (sun)
Hideki
秀樹
(splendid opportunity)
Hiroki
弘樹
(abundance of joy)
Hisoka
密
(reserved)
Ichiro
一郎
(first son)
Isamu
勇
(courage)
Jun
順
(obedient)
Kei
恵 / 佳 / 圭
恵 (blessed, lucky), 佳 (excellent), and 圭 (jewel)
Ken
健 / 謙
健 (healthy) and 謙 (modest)
Makoto
誠
(sincere)
Masumi
真
(true lucidity)
Michi
道
(way)
Minoru
里
(truth)
Nobu
信 / 延
信 (faith) and 延 (extend, prolong)
Ryo
亮 / 遼 / 諒
亮 (brightness), 遼 (distant), and 諒 (reality)
Satoru
暁 / 悟
暁 (dawn) and 悟 (illuminated)
Shiro
四郎
(fourth child)
Tadao
忠夫
(loyal man)
Cute Names
One of the coolest Japanese boys’ names is Tatsumasa which means to “stand” or “lead.”
You don’t always have to go for the coolest name though.
Sometimes, a cute name is so much better! Like one of these:
Ai
愛
(love)
Akihiro
昭洋
昭 (clear) and 洋 (ocean)
Akito
朗人
朗 (cheerfulness) and 人 (human)
Beniko
紅子
(child)
Chiyo
千代
(1000 generations)
Chiyoko
千代子
(child of 1000 generations)
Haruki
春貴
春 (spring) and 貴 (precious)
Hiroto
博登
博 (leading widely) and 登 (climb)
Kenji
健慈
健 (healthy) and 慈 (to be affectionate)
Kouji
交二
交 (exchange) and 二 (two)
Kousei
光生
光 (light) and 生 (living)
Kousuke
光祐
光 (light) and 祐 (help of god)
Kouta
功泰功
(achievement)
Mitsuki
光希
光 (light) and 希 (hope)
Riku
睦
(harmonious)
Syouji
商児
商 (trade) and 児 (child)
Touma
灯守
灯 (light) and 守 (protect)
Yoshiaki
佳朗
佳 (beautiful, lovely) and 朗 (cheerfulness)
Yoshiki
吉城
(luck)
Yutaka
優
(superiority)
Unique Names
The above names are all great!
But, if you want some beautifully unique Japanese boy names, you need to take a look at what we’ve got in the list below:
Harushi
春
(spring)
Ichi
一
(one)
Itaru
純
(pure)
Keijirou
啓二郎
啓 (opening), 二 (two), and 郎 (man, men’s)
Kyoushirou
亨志朗
亨 (lead), 志 (aspire), and 朗 (cheerfulness)
Mikito
未希斗
未 (not yet), 希 (hope), and 斗 (ladle)
Oushirou
凰史郎
凰 (firebird) and 史 (history)
Reiichi
麗壱
麗 (beautiful) and 壱 (one)
Rukia
輝樹
輝 (bright) and 樹 (tree)
Rukito
るきと
Both the hiragana and katakana are meaningless
Shigeki
慈生
慈 (be affectionate) and 生 (living)
Syouei
匠栄
匠 (artisan) and 栄 (flourish)
Syungo
俊五
俊 (outstanding person) and 五 (five)
Syuntarou
俊汰郎
俊 (outstanding person) and 汰 (too many)
Tamahiro
玉博
玉 (ball) and 博 (leading widely)
Touga
冬河
冬 (winter) and 河 (river)
Waichirou
羽市
羽 (wing) and 市 (city)
Wakuto
惑斗
惑 (bewilder) and 斗 (ladle)
Yui
唯
(emphasis)
Yuui
佑道
佑 (help someone) and 道 (road)
More Variations of Japanese Boy Names
With a vibrant history spanning millennia, Japan has a deep and rich name culture to explore.
Likewise, there are thousands more names to discover with equally many kanji combinations.
Want to find what the most beautiful name in Japanese is? You certainly will find one below:
Kensyou
賢尚
賢 (smart) and 尚 (precious)
Manabu
真愛武
真 (true), 愛 (love), and 武 (ferocious)
Reiji
伶士
伶 (clever) and 士 (samurai)
Ryouga
凉雅
凉 (cool) and 雅 (refinement, elegance, grace)
Wakana
和奏
和 (calm, harmony, peace, concord, serenity) and 奏 (play the music)
Wakato
稚人
稚 (juveniles) and 人 (human)
Wakou
倭光
倭 (ancient japan) and 光 (light)
Waku
湧
(spring)
Wataru
航流
航 (boat) and 流 (flow)
Wato
和都
和 (calm, harmony, peace, concord, serenity) and 都 (capital)
Origins of Japanese Names: The Importance of Meanings
Japanese names have a beautiful history behind their names. From what the name means to the characters used; everything has purpose.
A Japanese name connects you with your Japanese family.
Interestingly, it also helps you connect with family history; for this reason, the importance of meanings in Japanese naming is so important.
As early as 300 BC, Japanese families were organized into clans. The names of these clans were used as family names.
More often than not, these names were based on occupations or other features of the clan members.
In addition to their clan’s name, people were also given honorific titles. These titles hold a lot of weight, even to this day.
There is another reason why the meaning behind a Japanese name is important – the name essentially embodies the qualities the name-bearer should have.
For instance, a manly Japanese name is Akio which means “hero” or a person who is “manly.”
Thanks to this rich history, a Japanese name’s meaning is significantly important This is a factor that greatly adds to its beauty.
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